By: Dustin Chapman

The Miami Heat began the night of May 20′s 2008 NBA Draft lottery with the best odds to come away with the rights to the first overall selection, and even though they ended in a lower position, Pat Riley and company are still able sleep soundly. Due to the Chicago Bulls pulling out the impossible with their 1.7% chances by being rewarded with the first pick, Miami inevitably dropped. Luckily, they dropped just one slot, and ended the night with the second overall selection in 2008′s top-heavy NBA Draft.

This year’s consensus top two selections are a pair of freshman sensations with extremely differentiating games. On one hand, you’ve got Kansas State forward Michael Beasley, who put up even better numbers (26.2 PPG, 12.4 RPG) than Kevin Durant did in his highlighted freshman season at Texas in 2006-2007. Beasley is a versatile combo forward who possesses the ability to score in a wide variety of ways both inside and out on the perimeter. Physically, he is also much further along with Durant and is not afraid to initiate contact in the painted area. His talent level is astounding, and despite his defensive struggles thus far, he is one of the most talented frontcourt players to come along since the loaded 2003 draft that featured LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Chris Bosh.

On the other hand, you’ve got Memphis’ Derrick Rose, who may is destined for greatness at the point guard position. He’s got a unique blend of athleticism, explosiveness, size, basketball IQ, and balance. If you want him to successfully run an offense, he’s your man. If you want an explosive scoring option, he’s your man. If you need a clutch shot, he’s your man, and has the experience of doing so in the 2007 National Championship game. If you need a defensive stop, he can get that done as well. Derrick Rose can star on the court at the same time as making his teammates better, and that is not something you see every day from a point guard prospect. Rose has so much upside at the point guard position that many “experts,” including Jay Bilas, suggest that he is worth taking over Beasley for Chicago, despite their lack of a frontcourt scoring option.

Chicago’s decision will not be officially made until draft night on June 26, but regardless of who falls into Miami’s lap, Heat fans finally have something to be excited about.

By: Dustin Chapman

Back on December 19 in Atlanta, Heat center Alonzo Mourning tore the patella tendon in his right knee trying to make a defensive play in transition. Shortly after, “Zo” underwent what was thought to be career-ending surgery.

Nearly five months later, Mourning is, as usual, showing the true warrior in his soul. The 15-year NBA veteran has reportedly decided to lace ‘em up for one last time next season, barring any major setbacks throughout his recovery process.

There is a great deal of irony involved in Mourning’s situation, however. The 2003 kidney transplant he underwent took place on December 19. This past season’s knee injury? Once again, occurred on December 19. It doesn’t get any freakier than that.

All irony aside, let’s take a moment to recognize Mourning’s mental strength. Whether you’re a die-hard basketball fan or an average Joe with an ounce of sympathetic compassion, learning that Mourning is going to return to the court is nothing short of a heartwarming story. This, adding to the kidney failure that threatened his well-being and forced him to retire in 2003, shows what Alonzo Mourning the man is all about. No matter what the situation, there is a gene in his body that will never allow him to quit. It’s impossible to feel anything but outstanding respect for him.

It would have been a real shame to see a guy like Alonzo Mourning go out the way he could have this past season. Here’s to a successful recovery and 2008-2009 season for the man who epitomizes heart, toughness, and mental endurance.

By: Dustin Chapman

Pat Riley has stepped down as head coach of the Miami Heat, but he remains the team’s President. This summer, he has a wide variety of decisions to make. The biggest? Simply put, the direction of the team. Does he go with a youth movement and use Shawn Marion’s expiring dollars (whether it be this summer or next) to build a strong, young squad around superstar Dwyane Wade? Or does he go out and build a viable veteran team around Wade, that can be competitive right away?

The answer to those questions may very well be answered on May 20, the NBA’s 2008 NBA Draft Lottery, which is just two weeks away. The Heat will enter the night with the very best odds at landing one of the top picks, if not the top pick, in this June’s draft. It is uncertain how they will feel by the end of the event, but it is indisputable that the lottery ball is bound to be be the route to Riley’s bold decisions.

If Miami ends up with a top two pick, which would net them the rights to either Kansas State forward Michael Beasley or Memphis guard Derrick Rose, it might make sense to go with a youth movement and build a strong nucleus of young players around Wade and the draftee. If they drop in the lottery, however, it is expected that Riley will explore other options and entertain the thought of trading the pick for established help.

The bottom line is that the Miami Heat are not competitive, they are not exciting, and they are not filling seats. This is the summer where Pat Riley needs to choose a steady direction and roll with the plan.

Heat fans need something to cheer for in the 2008-2009 season – either experience or hope.

*Cue draft music*

(Stern) … With the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat select…

***** ***** out of *********.

Who’s Out There?

If I’m Pat Riley, a part of the Heat organization, or a fan, the 2008 NBA draft will be a 2nd Christmas for me.  After finishing 15-67 which was good for the worst record in the NBA, the Miami Heat are hoping to strike gold in the 2008 NBA Draft and select a solid young player to contribute to the club.

First, let’s look at the scenario of the Miami Heat landing the #1 pick in the draft…

You obviously have two top prospects in Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose.  Both players are awesome athletes and basketball players, and either one would make a team piss their pants in joy.

F Michael Beasley- Kansas State

Beasley would fit in and start right away for the Heat.  He would give them an athletic god to go along side with Dwyane Wade, as well as someone who can take it down low, rebound, block shots, as well as shoot the three.  So basically, he can do everything.

As a Kansas State Wildcat, Beasley averaged 27/13 in 40 mpg.  Definitely one of the most impressive stat lines in all of NCAA Div. 1.  He led the Wildcats to a first round win in the tourney over USC, but fell short to Wisconsin a round later.

PG Derrick Rose- Memphis

Rose would be a perfect fit for the Heat, a playmaking defensive PG to set up D-Wade and score the rock.  Rose like Beasley has off of the chart athletic prowess.  He’s a great finisher who would complement Wade in every sense of the word.

He’s a very strong defender who locks down on the perimeter and gets the occasional steal.  His court vision is superb and supposedly is a fantastic team oriented guy.  A franchise point guard for sure.

Leading his team to the National Championship is great experience to bring over to the NBA, and is shows his leadership abilities by playing the most important position on the court for a national championship contending basketball team.

What if they don’t land the #1?

Well, obviously if they land the #2 they can just take one of the two players above that didn’t get taken.  However, it doesn’t stay that simple if they land a pick later in the draft say #3 or #4.

If that happens, they can go two routes.

Take another player such as Jerryd Bayless the PG out of Zona.

• Brook Lopez the center out of Stanford
• O.J Mayo the point guard out of USC

And etc. etc. etc.

Or, they can get creative and trade that pick for a more proven player playing in the NBA right now.  Who that could be, I don’t know.  But I’m sure some teams would bite at that, especially one in the rebuilding mode.

No matter what happens in this lottery/draft, I’d be very excited for the future if I was a Heat fan.  Combining the talent that will come out of it with Dwyane Wade can only mean good things.